Gently insert the entire soft tip of the swab into one nostril until you feel a bit of resistance and rub it in a circle around your nostril 4 times. Next, gently insert the same swab into the other nostril and rub it around the same way. Lower the swab, tip first, into the provided tube.

How is the COVID-19 nasal swab test performed?

A fluid sample is collected by inserting a long nasal swab (nasopharyngeal swab) into your nostril and taking fluid from the back of your nose or by using a shorter nasal swab (mid-turbinate swab) to get a sample.

Are saliva tests just as effective as nasal swabs to diagnose COVID-19?

Saliva testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is as effective as the standard nasopharyngeal tests, according to a new study by investigators at McGill University.